Boxologist (Jon C.) staying in Robbinsville one more night

[Al N.]

I got a call from Box this afternoon. He was still in Robbinsville...apparently he hit a rock on 28 and it knocked out his O2 sensor and some of the associated wiring. Luckily, it's all Ford products and he thinks he'll be back on the road tomorrow. BTW, he is the one driving the journalist from Hemmings to and from the event from the NYC area. Should make for a good story or two.

[slngsht]

That's a bummer. I wish we had caravaned together... we could've tossed the Rotus off the trailer and towed his car.

[Kitcat]

My mechanical misadventures included the throttle linkage from the throttle cable to the carbs breaking. This was on the way in Fri night on the Dragon. The engine would only idle. No cell coverage & no traffic, except for the occasional sportbike whizzing by at supersonic speeds. Sun going down. Not a happy feeling.

 

I was able to jury-rig the linkage so I could at least drive it gently & motor into Topoca Lodge, way late. The solution was a roll of electrical tape I had packed. Actually it fell out of my bag & my wife saw it as I left & asked if I needed it. Saved my butt. A more elegant but still imperfect solution was devised the next day after about 4 hours of tinkering. Part is now ordered.

 

Special thanks to Michael Dougherty & Norm Beaver for the warm greeting when I pulled into the lodge parking lot, a total stranger to all. A shout-out to Norm for handing me a cold Molsons on the spot-pretty tasty after 6 hours in a 7!

 

Also my luggage stuffed into the passenger foot well dislodged the starter fuse. I had a dead car again. Fortunately it was at the photo shoot & a fellow Sevener diagnosed it quickly & I was on my way.

 

Mike

[slngsht]

Mike, did we get to meet? PM me a picture of yourself. Did you not buy the blue car? I don't recall seeing your car.

[Kitcat]

I was there, as was the blue car.

 

But I arrived just before dusk Fri, chatted a bit, went to the Dragon video in the Quonset, returned to Robbinsville where I stayed, worked on the car the whole next morning ( I can now do the repair in under 5') then hit the roads, with visits back to Tapoca off & on during the day, then the photo shoot & banquet then left Sat eve around 8:30. So, I was hard to find. I did have a nice chat w/Tony Vacarro & Boxologist, & others. I learned Boxologist's nom du forum stems from his history of managing boxers (professional fighters).

 

I have been surprised at looking at the photos of the event how many cars were there that I did not see.

 

I am too technically challenged to send photos-otherwise I'd be posting some I took of the event.

[slngsht]

I was there, as was the blue car.

 

But I arrived just before dusk Fri, chatted a bit, went to the Dragon video in the Quonset, returned to Robbinsville where I stayed, worked on the car the whole next morning ( I can now do the repair in under 5') then hit the roads, with visits back to Tapoca off & on during the day, then the photo shoot & banquet then left Sat eve around 8:30. So, I was hard to find. I did have a nice chat w/Tony Vacarro & Boxologist, & others. I learned Boxologist's nom du forum stems from his history of managing boxers (professional fighters).

 

I have been surprised at looking at the photos of the event how many cars were there that I did not see.

 

I am too technically challenged to send photos-otherwise I'd be posting some I took of the event.

 

Email them to me and I will post them (mazda_ebrahimi@yahoo.com). If possible, please zip them up in one file.

[slngsht]

I just called Jon up to see how he is doing.

 

He said everything is running fine. He is past Roanoke now. :thumbs:

 

 

[Boxologist]

thanks all!

 

David and I got back fine. the car is in good shape. have an autoX on sunday, and 2 OT shifts before that, so i'll be going over a bunch of stuff right before tech:grouphug:

 

It was an absolute bummer to smack what i originally thought was a piece of wood on Tn28 (~10:30 7/9/07). I made it thru the dragon easily, but hellbender kills the trip home:reddevil: It was about 3 miles out of Fontana and i move the car slightly right to have it pass away from the sump. as soon i pass over it the car jutters and dies. We pulled over, and saw the rear O2 sensor cracke off and the wiring stripped and frayed.

 

we flagged a few TVA trucks, who didn't even have room to take on a third body, Dave stayed with the 7 and I eventually got a ride with a kid who got lost leaving a place his family rented on lake Santeelah (129 south of Tapaco) to get back. he took me to Deal's Gap. Seeing no garage or tow there, we proceded down to Robbinsville. On the way down I see Al and family with Orange in tow finally leaving (11:00). I was dropped off at Microtel and Sue at the counter helped me out immensely with the phone number for some garages and tow operators. i didn't get back to Dave and 7 with a tow for several hours. we got there, the 2 towers gave a good look over the situation, and tried to figure out how to tow a 7, but decided they needed to call one of their son's in with the flatbed. they would have to drive off and call him in as soon as they had cell coverage.

 

to be continued...